THE ISLAND TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5634, 6 December 1879, Page 5

THE ISLAND TRADE.

Tils ar,muncement of the failure of Messrs. Go i iefroi and C-~ the great German firm ■wlio have so monopolised the 1.-land trade, created a good deal of surprise in Auckland. The German trading operations in the South Seas have b en regarded a3 having a political as well as comm rcial aspect, and it was imagined that Goddefroi was quite as unassailable as Kaiser William. We in Auckland are particularly interest ;d in t!ii3 Island trade. From t:;e time whon Sir George Grey expressed his opiuiou th t Aueklaud was the natural centre of the trade of tile archipel.ig -cs of the South Seas—the natural emporium of tli*ir commerce — every observant man has ag'etil in the sta ; euieut, aud wondered that the position had not long ago been assure 1. Partly, however, through the inVer'nt difficulties of the Island trade, partiy by the operations of the German firms, r.nd part'y by the aetiou of our Customs tariff, Auckland has not realised the expectations formed. What diffcreDC- the failure of Mersro. Go ldefr..i may h.ve, it is impi-ssiblu to say as present. The German have been t-nsraged in the trade since 1552. "Up t ■ lS'ii. the bu-iness was carried on in the nam-.- ■ t Hunshl-ui and Co., it w.-s takun OV- '• by Jol;n C;e-ar Goddtfroi and Son. Mr G. 11. Webber being manager. In IS7S, pa't of Messrs. G'ddefroi's business was tak. ii ov r by a company forme i. and named the German Plantation at d Trading Company of tbe South Seas The Mea-rs. Goddefroi retained a number of shares. Previous to tbi?, the part of the tra 1-r appertaining to Tahiti, and adjacent islands was taken over by a company named the Commercial and Planta tion Company of the South Seas, of which also Goildefroi retained a number of share?. At the present time, those engaged in busiue.-s have aniODgst them a considerable amount of "paper," for which Messrs. Goddefroi are responsible. The cau=e of the failure is as yet entirely a matter of surmise. It is thought that God-lefr.ii had assigned to Baring Brothers, and that that firm has forced them to realms?. In all probability, the companies now carrying on the business will not be directly affected, and will continue their operations wilhout check. It may, bowever, induce greater caution, anl give Auckland merchants a better chance than they Lave had hitherto.